Which term describes ROM initiated and completed by the patient without assistance?

Which term describes ROM initiated and completed by the patient without assistance?

• A. Static Asymmetry
• B. Dynamic Asymmetry
• C. Active ROM
• D. Passive ROM

Answer: (C)

Active range of motion is the amount of joint movement the person can achieve through voluntary muscle contraction, without any outside help. When ROM is initiated and completed entirely by the patient, it is considered active ROM. This differs from passive ROM, where someone else—like a clinician or a device—moves the joint for the patient without the patient actively contracting the muscles. The terms static asymmetry and dynamic asymmetry describe differences in posture or movement between sides, not who initiates or completes the movement, so they don’t fit this scenario. Active ROM is used to assess both mobility and the strength of the muscles needed to move the joint.

Active range of motion is the amount of joint movement the person can achieve through voluntary muscle contraction, without any outside help. When ROM is initiated and completed entirely by the patient, it is considered active ROM. This differs from passive ROM, where someone else—like a clinician or a device—moves the joint for the patient without the patient actively contracting the muscles. The terms static asymmetry and dynamic asymmetry describe differences in posture or movement between sides, not who initiates or completes the movement, so they don’t fit this scenario. Active ROM is used to assess both mobility and the strength of the muscles needed to move the joint.